Ryan Shawcross has promised to call on the work ethic that has served him well in 11 years at Stoke City as he tries to win back his starting place.

The captain has been left on the bench for three games in a row as Gary Rowett tinkers with his back line to try to stop the side leaking goals.

They conceded five in the first two he missed but kept a fourth clean sheet of the season last night in a 2-0 home win over Bolton. That lifts Rowett’s side to 16 in the Championship – four points off the play-offs and seven points above the bottom three coming up to the quarter-mark of the season.

Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross has lost his starting place to loan signing Ashley Williams. (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Shawcross left the ground with a smile – and had already addressed his personal challenge in his programme notes.

The centre-back, who turns 31 tomorrow, admits at times he has not met the standards he expects of himself but that he has ‘full belief’ in his own ability to be back as a key man, helping Stoke climb the table.

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“I won’t lie, it was incredibly disappointing to have found out the news (I was being dropped) but I am big and strong enough to accept it,” he said.

“All I can do now is keep doing the things that have served me so well for the past decade or so and ensure I am in prime condition to grab the next opportunity that is presented me with both hands.

“It has been strange to be sat on the sidelines but the manager has always said he will pick players on merit and I will be the first to admit that my performances at times this season have been below the levels that I have come to expect from myself.

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“I think any number of us would say the same and we know it is down to ourselves to show you all that we still have the qualities and traits to be successful at this level.

“I certainly have full belief in my ability and I can only hope it won’t be too long until I am back in the XI, helping this fantastic club move up the table into a position we all feel we should really be in.”

Ryan Shawcross gives out instructions during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Swansea City at the bet365 Stadium. (Image: Nathan Stirk)

Only Preston (24) have let in more goals than Stoke so far this season, although Hull, QPR and Aston Villa have also conceded 18.

Shawcross added: “We are working tirelessly behind the scenes to get things right and I think it has been evident over the past few weeks that when we are all in tune we are a real handful for any side in the Championship. However it is imperative that we sharpen up at the back.”